How Do Squirrels Get Into The Attic?
Squirrels are nimble rodents that will utilize their strong teeth and expert climbing abilities to gain access to your home’s attic. It’s common for homeowners to see squirrels climbing on top of their homes, and even the most secure homes are prone to a squirrel invasion. Understanding this pest’s entry methods may prevent a costly rodent infestation.
Squirrels are often regarded as the most vexing of pests due to their tenacity and destructive gnawing or chewing on house woodwork and wires. When squirrels build a nest inside a roof, they can do a lot of damage. They are excellent chewers and are well-known for tenaciously chewing their way into buildings as they enjoy being inside.
Once inside, they begin gnawing on structures and fittings, causing havoc. Squirrels are a major annoyance to many homeowners because they can be heard scurrying, chattering, and upturning things in your attic all day.
Learn More: Squirrel Removal FAQ
Soffit To Roof Returns
A roof soffit is where two portions of a roof meet and prevents water from entering the attic. The shingles from the lower roof meet the soffit from the upper section at these points. Soffits frequently fail to meet flush with the shingle below when installed. This results in a gap that squirrels can run through directly into the attic. These gaps can be small and difficult for a homeowner to spot. A wildlife removal pro will find the bad shingles and will seal up the gaps.
Gutters & The Roof’s Edge
Rainwater does not run off properly because of clogged gutters, broken gutters, or a missing drip edge. The moisture will damage the edge of your roof as the water backs up. Parts of the underlayment will deteriorate over time, allowing a squirrel to enter your home through a hole along the roof’s edge.
Attic Fans & Vents
It’s possible that the squirrels are using an existing opening, such as a vent, rather than chewing one. Roof vents, attic louvers, ventilation fan openings, and conduits where lines or cables enter are all places where squirrels can get into attics. The rodents will chew through the vent’s plastic to create a large hole that allows easy entry and exit. Our wildlife prevention team can install vent covers that will exclude any animals from entering the attic through vents. The covers are made of strong steel wiring that squirrels can’t chew.
Fascia Boards, Weak Roof Areas, And Construction Gaps
The roof decking lid and fascia board are common weak spots that squirrels use to gain access to the soffit and the attic. The decking above the fascia board is where the shingles are nailed. Decking is usually made of plywood in modern homes, but it can also be made of planks that run parallel to the guttering. The plank directly behind the gutter, on which the gutter is nailed, is known as a fascia board. The fascia board and roof decking have a weak joint that squirrels easily rip apart.
The issue arises when the fascia board is installed with a gap between the decking and the fascia board. This typically does not result in a visible problem. Even if a homeowner climbs a ladder and sees the bad joint with their own eyes, they will not understand what they are seeing, but a squirrel will. A squirrel peering through the gap will recognize the entry point and see it as a good nesting location. They will then chew through this area to see if the gap gets bigger (the entire attic).
Typical homeowners will not be able to identify weak spots in the roof decking or fascia board. An experienced pest removal technician can find where the weak spots are and reinforce any vulnerabilities.
How Can I Prevent Squirrels In The Attic?
Keeping up with regular maintenance can deter most cases of a squirrel invasion. These rodents will leap from nearby trees onto a home’s roof. Trimming tree branches will eliminate the squirrels’ easy route to the roof. A good rule of thumb is to keep branches at least 8 feet away from the home.
Check the roof for damaged shingles or damaged vents. Gaps in the roof make for easy access, and repairing/sealing gaps is good prevention practice. You must check the home for pests before doing this because the animals could be trapped inside. If trapped, squirrels will create more damage in an attempt to escape.
To ensure that prevention practices are done properly, contact an experienced technician at animals happen. Our staff is professionally trained to make proper repairs and recognize weak points.